tanner



A. J. T'ANNER.

TICKET SYSTEM AND MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. II. 1921.,

1,41 3,634. Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

l a sHEIaTs-SIIEI-:T I. A 7:46. l 5

New NAMES naar A. J. TANNER. TICKET SYSTEM AND MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. H. 192|.

1,41 3,634, Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.v

AJ. T'ANNER. TICKET SYSTEM AND MEANS THEREER APPLICATION FlLED SEPT. 17. 192|.

1,41 3,634.. Patented A'pr. 25, 1922.

v s SHEETS-SHEET s. V6.4.

ARNOLD J. TANNEE, OE Non'rrr HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, AssreNoE To JoHNsON' FARE nox COMPANY, or CHICAGO. ILLiNois, A CORPORATION oENEw' YORK.

TICKET SYSTEM AND MEANS THEREEOE.

Specification of Letters latent. 'Patented A131-, 25, 1922 original application led April Y15, 1919, Serial No. 317,663. Divided .andthis application led Septem- Y ber 1 7, 1921. Serial NO. 501,427. f

To @ZZ whom t may concern Be it known that ARNOLD JAMEs TANNER,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of North Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have in vented certain new and use-ful Improvements in Ticket Systems and Means Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to ticket systems and consists of improved means for producing tickets having Vindividual differentiating characteristics and is especially useful for railway and like passenger service wherein zone or stage fares of vvarious de-` nominations are assessed and pre-paid ac-' cording to the distance ornumber of zones proposed to be travelled by the passenger.

The machine proposed according to this invention has distinctive characteristics dif# ferentiating it fromticket machines heretof fore proposed in that it canbe successfully employed on a vehicle, `while in transit, by setting the machine relatively to the particular zone in which-tlievehicle is travelling, `and then by operation of a selected member or key of the machine, uniform tickets bearing determined indications as to the point of entry and the named destination are issued. l

In practice with passenger service systems, as applied to railways, Omnibuses, and the'like, fares are more desirably collected by prepayment when the passenger is enter'- ing the vehicle and the operator whose duty it is to attend to the collection and checking of fares, is permanently stationed at a fixed collection point, usually on the platform of the vehicle. j

Passengers boarding and leaving the vehicle `at different fare points create variable conditions respecting the fare to be. paid, consequently with a fairly complicated system, having a considerable number of fare points, amongst other faults, the Operator is liable tomake errors, particularly as regards the amount of the fare. The primary object of this invention is to remove the tendency to err byeliminating the human element in the assessment of the fares and for this purpose the improved machine is provided with automatic means which areset mechanically and successively at the time when the vehicle reaches different fare points i and wherebythe operation of the machine to issue. a ticket' for the correct fare value, becomes purely mechanical, that is, the operation thereofis simple for herein operation o fa selectedv operating-member will issue .tickets showing the respective fare which varies according to the 'periodical setting O f the machine for each farestage or zone.' A

At congested-points, speed is particularly.

essential, therefore elimination- Of calculation on the part of the operator is an important consideration. To permit Vspeedcd operation, with. natural attendantA hard usage,the improved machine is made simple 'and durable of construction, rapid in operation, and even though the operator employs excessiveforce, `when working under pressure, the machine will remain in perfect working'order. The vimprovedmeans are efficient-in operation and flexible inapplication so as to meet different conditions. kThe bulk of the machine is also a factor lto be considered because available space on a passengenvehicleisnecessarily restricted. The improved machine is accordingly especially designed to be compact in form, of as few parts as possible, which latter feature offers the further advantage that it renders the machine easy to assemble and readily` accessible.

The tickets issued from the improved machine provide ready and positive means for determining and indicating the amount of the fare paid or to be paid from any fare point or between any two points, and by4 machine having a plurality of p rinting characters or devices arranged thereon in a manner whereby through successive setting of said member, any one, two or more of said printing characters are successively brought into a predetermined printing position relatively to said divisions or blank spaces on the ticket; thirdly, the machine is provided with operating means comprising a main lever or member carrying or having associated therewith one or more secondary or Subsidiary levers or members capable of independent initial operation relatively to said main member whereby the initial operation of said operating means will hrst effect printing of the ,ticket and give an audible signal of that operation and subsequently the main and secondary member ormembers will move as one united membery and in proper sequence effect feeding and severing or" the ticket; and fourthly, the machine is provided with recording means when employing a plurality of secondary levers, each lever operating in unchangeable relation with aV device or devices effecting printing iu one particular space or division on the ticket; said recording` means comprising a plurality of separately actuatable counters,

representing different value denominations,V

and which counters are capable of being set in determined and successive operative relation with said secondary levers whereby ditferent determined valuations may be recorded by each of said secondary levers.

ln carrying out the principles of theinvention above referred to, various improved details of construction and arrangement of parts are introduced. Such details also form part of the present invention and the same together with the main features of the invention will be fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating different embodiments of the inventionand in which drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section illustrating a form of machine suitable for a prepayment fare Vcollecting system;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation showingpart of the machine;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 43 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4t is a front elevation partly in section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3; c

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary view illustrating' a modified form of mechanism for operating the printing device and also showing its relation to the recording means;

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate diagrammatically a method of arranging the type on a printing drum used with the improved 'machine, and

Figure S shows a specimen ticket whereon all printed matter is imprinted by the machine using a blank ticket strip.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein 10, represents a casing enclosing the working parts of the machineV with the eX ception of the external keys 112. rlhe cas ing is composed of top section 114i, front plate 15, sideplates 16, and back plate 17, which latter plate is retained in place by thumb nuts 102. The back plate 17 or hinged part 101 is removable for the purpose of insert ing, when required, a fresh. roll 21, containing strip tickets. The ticket strip from said roll, passes through guide slot 26 in plate 105, and by this guiding means straight travel of the ticket Vstrip between feed-rollers 27 and 28 is ensured. i

rl`he printing drum 5ft rotates with'the shaft 53 which is turned intermittently b y means of knob 55, to set the selected printing type in alignment with the printing platens hereinafter referred to. A hub or cylinA drical port-ion 56 of the knob 55 bears indi eating characters thereon representing zones or fare points and these characters are arranged in proper order relatively to the arrangement of the printing type on the drum, so that, tor example, the numeral 1, exposed through the opening 57 in the cover 58 indicates that the vehicle is traveling in` the first zone.

lit-hthis setting of the indieating device, operation of the machine will issue a ticket with printing matter thereon as illustrated; for example, in Figure 1 when prepared tickets are employed, or 'as shown in Figure S, when blank tickets are used. y y

An example of one method of carrying out the principle involved in the arrangement of the printing characters or type is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and it is to be noted the illustrative example is designed for a route having five fare points or four zones, for which a charge of six cents is made for each zone. It will be assumed the vehicle is travelling` intheY first zone between points named, New Haven-Barnes Ave, and the machine shownin Figure 1 is set accordingly. Agreeing with the `reading of the indicator, group, column, or row a of type drum 54e is in position for service and consequently in issuing a ticket one of the divisions orblank spaces of the ticket, representing zones, has a fare value printed therein. vWhen the vehicle arrives at the second zone, Barnes Ave.'-Muddy River, the operator advances the drum one point and this operation is guided by engagement 'of the'detent 59 in the next notch 60 of the detent whee161. Then type row b isv in position for service and so on, each row of printing type is brought into position for service as the vehicle progresses in its journey from point'to point, the fare values being retrogressively reduced both in num ber and value until for the last zone one 4character alone, namely, the six cent stamp, is in a position for printing. i

The ticket severing device consists of the latter .plate has legs 74 terminating as `rods 75 having asliding bearing'in bosses 76 in the plate 24. Nuts 7 8 arel provided for regulating the tension of the spring 79 which returns the knife blade carrier to the norm al or down position, whereby the opening-80 through the cross member `8.1 is left clear for the passage of the ticket. The extremities 82 of the levers 34 engage the carrier 73 after the ticket feeding action is completed.

The cutting edge 83 of the knife is pref-` erably serrated' and to give a shearing cut the knife blade is vgiven an oscillatory motion by the pins or rivets 84.

The ticket printing, feeding, and severing mechanism, hereinbefore referred to-is more fully described in my application Serial Number 317,663 iiled Augustvl, 1919, of which the present applica-tion is a division. In my first application mechanism and other parts of the invention described are adapted for the post-payment ofthe fare and in which case it-is required that the ticketrshould serveas means for indicating the fare the passenger has to pay when vhe is about to leave the car. ln the said previous arrangement, one, two, vor more of the print- Y ing type are brought Vinto service by the ini-v tial movement in the operation of issuing the ticket. The fare amount for all untraversed Zones will be indicated on each ticket and assessed from the Zone in which the ticket is delivered in al manner so as to .be readable by the holder ofthe ticket, las

well as by the operator. l

According to the present carrying out of the invention, the said mechanism is applied with other parts of theinvention to amachine useful for a prepayment fare system, in whiclrcase the passenger pays Athe fare when entering the car.v Thev principles'involved in the other'iembodiment ofthe in'-l vention are mostly found in the present embodiment and a number of parts, or details are substantially alike, 'but thel present or prepayment type of machine dii-'fers chiefly in that the printing type are separately and individually brought into service anda registration indicating separate determined values is recorded by means of a. series of counters. For instance, withthe ticket illustrated in Figure 8, one counter will always indicate the multiple of 6ft value tickets issued, another 12 tickets, the third' 18e tickets, and

vthe other 24e tickets.' These counters are I'ixedly mounted on a'vcommon sliding carrier which may be moved on its base in selective order relatively toa plurality of printing keys whereby any one key representing a' determined value,- for the time being, may beoperated by'selection to print a ticketV with the proper destination indication and value receipt thereon, andthe operation of any one of said keys will effect issue of a ticket in the manner aforesaid,- vand effect a recording value of the ticket issued. l

Inthis form of the machine, a suitable casing is providedA and the strip ticket roll' 21 is carried under'the hinged. cover i101,

which is held in closed position by a fastening device 102 mounted-on the cross member Spring clips 104 (shown on dotted lines), provide a. bearing'for' the rolll and the ticket strip is guided through an opening indication of the 26 in spring plate 105 which plate bears and imparts tension'on continuous `s'haft`106 having mounted thereon idler feed rollers 27.

The detent wheel 61 has ratchet teethv engagedv by the pawl 59 in a'manner so thatl the printing drum 54 can be rota-ted in one direction only, as indicated lbythe arrow, and this limitation will prevent the operator from turning the drumlbackwards for'any purpose. 'Any approved printing" means'V suchv as a ribbon and suitable feeding-.mechanism may# be employed/with this or any embodimentA Aof theinvention.A 1With this embodiment,

Rotation of one of the ribbonv on one of the levers ,34. Each operation of thelevers 34 to feed a ticket, causes n Y Aoperation of the ribbon feedingdevice. i

lThe machine is detachably mountedion suitable base, forexample, a pillar 108 having top' plate 109 to which the bottom plate 91 of themachinepis securedlby nut; 110 'and 7 stud 111. v v

The levers 34 are, in construction and genprinting, feeding, and V'severing mechanism, substantially the' same as Vemployed-in the post-payment type of machine hereinbei'ore referred to, but" instead of asingle operating progressively changed by the followingVv ria means.A L slidingcarrier 113 has mounted thereon the recording counter composed of a series of counting units 114, eachuuit having its individual operating lever arm 115. Each leverv115 termina-tes in a flattened end 116 and` by moi/*ing said; carrier these Vends are selectively.. a nd successively brought into the pathof theprojections 116 of which there is one'on each key lever 112;. A series of separately actuatable platens 118 lis employed and 'eachplaten,co-operates`vwith its individual key lever112 byl engagement ofthe j eral arrangement relati'velyfto thefticket w vfree end of the latter with the notch 39.

Operation of any selected key 112 will effect printing through raising of the platen associated therewith substantially the distance allowed by slot 117, through which a coinmon'supporting rod 117 passes. The'value registered by the counting mechanism depends on which aim 115 is lying in the path of the projection 116 of the operated key, and the proper or agreeing value printed on the ticket depends on the correct setting of the printing drum 54.

Correct setting of the value registration and destination indication and value printed on the ticket relatively to each other and with respect to the location of the vehicle may readily be effected and ascertained by means of the indicators 138 and 139. V,By means ofY indicator 138 areading of the relative position of the printing drum 54 is obtained. ln Figure 6 the type or characters of group or column a are shown in position for service,

e andthe machine is assumed to be set for operation while the vehicle is in the first zone. lThe space between columns c and d is before the opening in the indicator 138, and in this andlike spaces in proper relative order, tho- ,cessively brought before the glazed opening ofthe indicator, with the movement of the sliding carrier 113.

In the drawing the ticket issued, is intended for a four zone rou te' but it will be undermr stood, the operation and general arrangement is the same for a different number of zones, only of course there wouldbe a key and associated recording and indicating device f-or each and everyzone. According to this setting of the machine, shown in Figure 1, the vehicle is still assumed to be in the vliist Zone and key 11 has been operated to deliver a ticket to a passenger whose destination is within the second Zone and the fare paid is 12 cents. Passengers having Zonesv 3 or 4 as their desinations would have a ticket issued to them valued respectively 18 cents, and 24 cents. Assuming nowthat the vehicle has reached the second Zone, the operator turns knob 55 one point and numeral 11 will apreading` in a reverse order, namely values (i cents, 12 cents, 13 cents, and 24' cents respectively for zones 4, 3, 2, and 1 and so, on, the

movement is progressive and at thev end of one trip the printing drum isset in'proper position for the first Zone of thenext trip. The arrangement of the printedA matter added to the ticket by the machine will indicate the direction of travel of the vehicle.

lThe change in the relative position of the recording means is effected by turning knob 120 to rotate worm 121, which engages a thread on the base 122 of the sliding member 113. By this means the said member is caused to slide to bring the various value recorders progressively into cooperative` relation with the various keys. T he movement of the sliding member is to and fro and carries duplicate recording devices, excepting the lowest or first value 6 cents .viich may be used in either journey of the vehicle so duplication of the same is unnecessary unf less a separate detailed count is to be kept of traffic returns between anyotwo fare points.

The sliding carrier 113 is enclosed within a housing 123 which may be locked to prevent unauthorized access thereto. Furthermore, a record is taken of the operation of the sliding carrier, by means of the counter 124 which is connected to the worin 121 by suitable transmission means, gearing 125 for instance, in a manner that improper operation of the sliding of the sliding carriers can be detected. y

Each plunger platen 118 has its individual spring 44 for returning it to its normal position an-d the tension of Said spring may be adjusted bymeans of nut 126. In its return movement the end of the operated platen strikes the bellV crank lever 45 soV as to ring the bell 46. The end of this'lever, 127, is T-shapedso as to be in line to engage any one of the plateus so that ringing of the bellis effected byY operation,` of any one of thel platens.

The machine is so designed that to issue a ticket one of the keys effecting printing must be operated, the only .access to operating` levers 34 being through the keys. Then one of the keys is depressed, this operation V.having caused the printing and the platen being restored to its normal position, the operated key strikes the tie rod 128 between the levers 34 and then continued depression `of the key operates the levers 34 against the return springs 129, effecting the feeding of the ticket and subsequently, when feeding is completed, the severing of the ticket.

The initial movement of the operated key lever is about the pivot 43 and when the tie bar 128 is engaged the operating levers 34 and all the keys 112 move with the said levers 34 as one unit, about the pivot constituted by shaft 35. Suiiicient movement is allowed the operated key lever 112 so as iop CCI

to give the registering counter arm 115, for the time being engaged by the projection llon said key, the required movementto record a count. The housing 123, it will be seen, has slots 129 cuttherein to receive the projections 116 and thereby the movement of the operated keys is not arrested until the said key strikes the shaft 32.

It may be required that the machine should consecutively number the tickets Vor such matter may previously have been printed on the ticket with other matter, but to retain a record of the number of tickets issued, and to facilitate counting and checking of the tickets and receipts with the number of passengers carried, a counter 130v may be provided and be operated from the levers 34. In case it is required, a total adding value device 131 is included and the same, as well as any detail adding devices employed, may be of any Well known form such as employed, for example, with cash registers in common use and wherein motion is imparted to the index dials ofthe register through a shaft rotated according to the value of the key operated.

Referring to Figure 2, herein the ticket severing device is more clearly shown. The movable knife blade 72, having a saw tooth Vcutting edge 83, severs the ticket, but not entirely, a minute fractional part remaining uncut so that the ticket Will not fall or be blownV away before the passenger Vtakes it.

The unsevered portion will readily tear beforel 'resistance of the ticket feed roller is overcome to permit pullingout of the strip.V

The groove 132 formed in the cross piece 81 ensures a'better cutting edge, and because of the length of the ticket to be cut, the cutting is effected by a shearing out 0btained by oscillatory motion of the knife blade 72 on the blade carrier (73) Which latter member has a vertical movement only. The blade is allowed oscillatory movement through the connection provided by pinV 84 and slot 133. The angular or cam slot 134, engaging the` roller on pin 135, effects lateral movement of the knife blade and spring 13G secured at one end to the pin 84 on the knife blade and at the other end to pin 137v on the carrier, gives a quicker action to the oscillatory motion of the knife blade.

Referring to Figure 5, illustrating in a slightly modified form the Working parts of the mechanism which effects operation of the printing, feeding, severing, and registering devices of the machine. The operating lever 34 of which there are preferably two, one on each side of the 'machine to obtain a 'Well balanced construction, is shown by full lines as being in its normalposition. The lever type key 112 is shown in full lines as being in the depressed position it is in when printing is effected. This leverv 112 is about to release the platen 118 which is in y128, they are moved as one unit about the pivot 35 in a path represented by line e. The end of the lever 112 bearing on the roller28 is for the time beingthe fulcrum from which the mechanism'operates. Pressure brought to bear on said key When feeding is effected between the full line position .and first broken line position vofthe lever 34, will beanadvantage'in that the contact of said key with" the roller willv act asa brake or check against spinning of the feed roller, particularlyl as the severing ofthe ticket takes place, When the end 82 of the lever 34 is in its highest position and the pawl 29 is out of engagement with the ratchet Wheel 30.

The engaging end of the key 112,' duiiing 'the initial movement of the latter, travels in the arc of acircle having the pivot- 43 as a cent/eras before stated. During this movementthe printing'platen is moved upward sharply` to effect a perfect print.v In the returning movement, lwhen pressure on the key is relaxed,spring` 86 having a quickerfaction than spring129, the operated key vwill return to its normal position, lying on the shaft 48 with the "companion keys, which during the foregoing operation remainedi'n this position. When in vtheir normal position the keys all travel substatnially in the arc of a circle having the pivotal point 35 as acenter. The keys are 'returned to their normal position by their individual springs 486M'and the ends of the keys readily enter intoI reengagement with their respective notchesin the platens118, but if required,"aV paWl or other device to break the ends'of thel lever in the direction ofthe return movement of the key maybe employed. y l,

Figure 8 lillustrates '-a specimen ticket Whereon all the printed mattei' is imprinted on a blank ticket strip by the machine and in which case the printing characters-or marks include .the fazre'value denomination 'and indication of the destination lin respect 'of which the fare was paid.. j

The operation of theimproved means is simple as'will be gathered, the operator need only set the machine correctly inthe first in stance and thereafter by {apurely mechani- 'cal action venfhis part,"he readily and quickly change the registering and printing devices for each Zone. With the means provided the change "may be ymade correctly with sense of feeling only and furthermore the passenger' may, by means of the indica.- tor, readily determine for himself, just what fare he must pay to any selected fare point.

It may be mentioned, the drawings herewith illustrate the machine approximately full size and this machine is adaptable for use on any route having, as an example, four zones and an equal numbr of fare values simply by changing the type drum.

Naturally in instances where there is a greater number of zones a machine having the desired number of keys and accompanying parts must be employed. In practice it may be desirable to manufacture say three standard sized machines, for example, the smallest size, for use with four zones, the next size for use with six zones, and the largest size for eight zones. The smallest sized machine will meet most requirements and the largest size would be for exceptional cases only. v

The movable printing drum and the arrangement of the printing type or characters thereon ina manner as described herein and applied to a pre-payment fare machine is an important feature of thisinvention, and the utili-ty thereof in computing fare values, among other thingsincreases with increasing number of zones. with a six zone route there may be as many as twenty fare changes in each journey, forty changes in the entire trip. Complexity increases progressively with the increase in the number of zones on account of the retrogressive reduction ofthe fares as the vehicle advances, consequently, when fares are calculated mentally, the 'operator is apt to make mistakes and the passenger is often in doubt and requires anV explanation, causing a delay.

With the improved system the passenger receives a ticket when he boards the vehicle and whether or not he then makes a payment is according to the system employed. ln any event, the ticket is in the possession of the passenger and the ticket is an indicator which will inform the passenger exactly what fare he must pay, the amount of which is always assessed from the point he boarded the vehicle. And, if the passenger' desires to contribute towards perfecting the service, he will ascertain, by inspecting the ticket, the amount of the fare payable at his destination, and he will then have the excess fare, should there be one, ready to hand the operator stationed at the pay-point.

Furthermore, the tickets provide means whereby the companys ofiicials or inspectors may readily check the returns and detect irregularities, which supervision will cause the operator to be careful and not let discrepencies occur,

Modifications of the details of construction inthe means hereinbefore described and For instance,

raises@C 'illustrated inthe drawings may readily be conceived and carried out, and it is to be understood all modications coming fairly within the terms of the appended claims shall be covered thereby.`

l claim: Y u

y1. A pre-payment multiple stage or zone fare computing and ticket issuing machine having means adapted to be set withrelation to each stage or zone to compute and indicate variable determined fares and said means being selectively operatable to issue from a ticket strip separate tickets bearing thereon matter indicating a fare payment in respect of Aa given destination or destinations.

A pre-payment multiple stage or zone fare computing and ticket issuing machine having means adapted to be set with relation to each stage or zone to compute and indicate variable determined fares and said means being selectively operatable to issue from a ticket strip separate tickets bearing thereon matter indicating a fare payment in respect of va given destination or destinations and a series of counters operatively associated with said means whereby a segregated count is kept of the number of operations of said means for the purpose of ascertaining the total sum of the fare payments in respectoof which tickets were issued by' ksaid means. Y

3. In a sta-ge farer ticket machine, a progressively movable printing' -member having thereon a plurality of characters arranged by groups in a determined order and associated with means whereby a print is obtained by selection from anyone character of any group to indicate a determined value paid in respect of a given destination or farepoint. A

el. 1n a ticket system for a passenger service system having multiple stage fare points, means comprising an intermittently non-r turnable and progressively operating member having printing devices arranged in a 'determined order with respect to saidy stage fare points and adapted to be used on a ticket having defined spaces corresponding to said stage fare points; means for selectively changing and indicating the position of said operating member; means comprising a pluraliy of separately operative keys or members for producing an .imprint fromV Yio I or a series oractuating levers or the-inacl'iine .1 tively to said keys or levers.`

f sponding to the rare points; means forsecomprising keys or separately operative l members for producing an individual printing operation from ase'lected printing device; and a series of counters movable as one unit `whereby -said counters are selectively placed in operative relation With said keys so that operation or any key is counted and recordedv with respect toits transitory relation With any given value represented by the printing device operated.

6. In a multiple fare ticket system means comprising a machine having a series of separately actuable platens; ank individual operating key or lever permanently associated With each platen; a printingmember having thereon type representing a determined graded order oi rare values; means for successively changing the position or said printing member whereby the position or said type is varied relatively to said pl'atens; a member carrying aseries of graded count- 'ers associated with said keys or levers; and

means for movingl said members whereby said counters'are selectively changed `rela- Y 7. In a mu t-iple rare ticket system7 means comprising azinacliine having aseries of separately actuable platens; ani individual operating lever permanently;associated Witheach platen; a. printing` member .having thereon type representing in determinedV graded order rare values; means toA etlect selective progressive setting of said printing member relatively toV said platens; and an indicator for guiding selective operation oi said'platens: y

i S. In a multiple stage faregsystein, a machine' for issuing, validated tickets from 'a 'ticket strip said machine having separate printing a-iidfissuing mechanism operated respectively by an initial movement of one andv by continued movement or the operated actuatiiig'lever when. brought i'iito'co-op'eral printing member having thereon type rep-f resenting different rare indications arranged in a determined graded order; means forefrecting selective progressive setting of said printing member relatively to said platensf; position 'indicating means associated with saidv printing member; a movable carrier provided With a series of counters representing determined graded valuation; said car- 'rier being capable of selective movement to position said counters relatively to said actuating levers; and an indicator whereby the ative yposition vvithitsr'espectve platen.` e

1l. A multiple stagel pre-'payment'l rare respective valuation of eachr` actuatinglever at the-' time of operation, is indicated] ,v 9.l .A multiple --stage lpre-payment -fare ticket machine havingticket printing mech aiiisni capable orfselective setting; a plunieans for effecting a single ,orf repeated action or said mechanism to. produce one l.or more tickets bearing thereon printed matter indicating variable fares between cha-nging fare points; and said printing'mechanisin comprising a printing member-having thereon characters representin-grare` indications arranged in a determined graded order relatively to said rare points;v

vrality ot' separately actuatableV operating.

10. A multiple stage pre-paymentAffareV ticket machine havin ticket printing mechanism capable or se ective setting; a plurality of separately' actuatable operatingy means for effecting a singleV or :repeated action or said mechanism 'to produce one or more tickets bearing thereon printed matter indicating variable fares between 'changing rare points; said printing mechanism comlprising a printing member having thereon characters representing fare indications aratively to vsaidffare points; and a plurality "ranged ina determinedA graded order r'elselected printing characterjfset 'into' .operticket machine having ticket printing mechi anism capable of selective 'setting-ya` pluralityV of separately actuatable' operating means 'for effecting a single or lrepeated? action of said mechanism to produce one or indicating variable rares between changing rare points; Vfsaid p'rintingmechanis'm comprisiiig aprinting member having thereon'- characters representing-'fare indications arranged ina determinec'lgraded order-relatively vto said ifare pointsg'; a'pilurality of effecting printing 'operation' from any selected'print'ing character` set vinto operative position with itsrespectivefplaten;l a-ifidV a plurality orv operating keysfreinaining permanently in the saine operative relation With said platens. 'i

110' separately actuatable printingplateii's for '12. A multiple pre-'payment' rare A ticket machine having ticket printing-,mech- -anism capable or selective-setting; av plural-4 ity of separatelyactu'atable operating Vmeans i for effecting 'a single or repeated action of said mechanismfto produce one orfinorel ticketsbe'aring thereon printedA matter indieating variable faresbetvveen changing fare points; said" printing mechanism comprising a printing ymember having thereon characters representing rare indications arranged inl a determined graded order relatively to i ysaid fare points; a pluraltyotseparately actuatable printing platens 'tor effecting a` printing'operation from any selected printing character set into operative position with its respective platen;` a plurality of i ing graded counts `or values for counting every printing operation according` to its grade; said counters being mounted on a common base which is selectively movable to locate said counters in a determined position with respect to said operati-ng keys.

13. A multiple .stage pre-payment rare ticket machine having ticket printing mechanism capable of selective setting; a plurality of separately actuatable operating means for effecting a single or repeated action of said mechanism to produce one or more tickets bearing thereon printed mattei' indicating variable fares between changing fare points; said printing mechanism comprising a printing member having thereon characters representing fare indications arranged in a determined graded order relatively to said fare points; a plurality of separately actuatable printing Vplatens for eilecting .a

' printing operation 'from anyselected printing character set into operative position with its respective platen; a plurality oit `operating keys-remaining permanently in the same operative relation with said platens; a plurality 01"' counters representing graded counts or values for counting every printing operation according to 'its grade; said counters being mounted on a common base which is selectively movable to locate said counters in a determined position with respect to said operating keys; and means for setting and indicating the graded relation of said counters with respectto said operating keys.

le. A multiple' stage pre-payment Jfare ticket machine having:ticketfprintingmechanism capable of selective setting; a plurality oi separately actuatable operating means for effecting a single or repeated` action of said mechanism to produce one or more tickets bearing thereon printed matter indicating variable fares between changing fare points; said printing mechanism comprising a printing membcrhaving thereon characters representing iare indications ai'- ranged in a determined graded order relatively` to said fare points; a plurality Aof separately actuatable printing platens for effecting a printing operation from any selected' printing character set into operative vposition with its respective platen; a plurality of 1 operating keys VVVremaining Y perinaiiently in the same operative relation with said platensg and said operating keys being each operatable initially to effect selective printing and continued movement' oi any operated key eiiecting operation of means to deliver the printed ticket.

15.21 multiple rstage pro-payment 'fare ticket machine having ticket printing mechanism capable of selective setting; a plurality of separately actuatable operating means ioi' effecting a single or repeated action of said mechanismV to produce one Vor more tickets bearing thereon printed mattei' indicating variable fares between changing rare points; said printing mechanism comprising a printing member having thereon characters representing fare indications arranged in a determined graded order relatively to said fare points; and said operating means comprising an actuating member composed of two parts pivotally united and of which one part is capable of independent initial movement relatively to the other part to eiect the printing operation.

16. A multiple stage pre-payment ,fare

a plumeans for effecting ay single or repeated action of said mechanism toproduce one or more tickets bearing thereon printed mattei' indicating variable fares between changing fare, points; saidprinting mechanism comprising a printing member having thereon characters representing fare indications arranged in a determined graded order relatively vto said fare points; said operating means comprisingan actuating member composed of two parts pivotally united and of which one part is capable of independent initial movement relativelyto the other part to effect the printing operation; and said operating member comprising a jointed lever capable of breaking atthe lioint thereof; an arm on the initially movable part of the lever and a leverA for operating a member of the printing mechanism engaged and operated by said arm. y

17. ln a stage fare ticket issuing machine, a rnon-reversible `printing member having thereon a plurality'of characters arranged by groups in graded relative order whereby each group may be aligned with means for `obtaining' an imprint yseparately from any character of each group. y

Signed at New Haven, in the countyy of New Haven and State of lConnecticut, this 16th day of September', A. D. 1921.

y ARNOLD J. TANNER." 

